abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

24 Mar 2007

Author:
Sarah Butler, Times [UK]

Surveys of conditions in foreign workplaces easily fooled

Up to 60 per cent of Chinese suppliers try to mislead retailers about working conditions as concern grows over how to ensure that manufacturers stick to standards expected by British shoppers, ethical inspectors say... [R]esearch by the Ethical Trading Initiative found that...third-party inspections often fail to pick up or change unethical behaviour. An ETI meeting on the subject attended by representatives from 20 top companies including Asda [part of Wal-Mart], Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Boots [part of Alliance Boots], The Body Shop [part of L'Oreal] and WH Smith found that third-party auditing was characterised by a “lack of evidence or proof, failure to identify the real issues and poor value for money”. [also refers to Marks & Spencer]